103 Years Ago

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/first-world-war/article4611454.ece

Saved from flames in Gallipoli

Nov 12 1915

Captain Percy Hansen, who won the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery on August 9 at Yilghin Burnu, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, has arrived in London, and is staying at the Royal Free Hospital, Gray’s Inn Road. He took part with the 6th (Service) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, in the landing at Suvla Bay, and three days later was present at the second capture of the Green Knoll. The eminence could not be held owing to the intense heat from the scrub, which had been set on fire, and after the retirement, he and three or four volunteers dashed forward several times over open ground into the scrub under terrific fire and succeeded in rescuing from inevitable death by burning no fewer than six wounded men.

“There isn’t much to tell,” said Captain Hansen yesterday to a representative of The Times. “I was in the biggest funk of my life,” he added with a smile, “and I hardly knew what was happening.” The Green Knoll, one gathered, was a gorse-covered hill which had to be carried before the attack on higher ground beyond could be attempted. The assault was launched at 5 o’clock, and in a quarter of an hour the top of the knoll was gained. There followed a desperate struggle to hang on to the ground. At midday a shell set the scrub alight, and a wall of flame, 30ft high, leaped up and swept over the hillside. Not only was further advance impossible, but the troops were compelled to give up the knoll. They fell back to a trench 400 yards below. The Lincolnshire Regiment went into action 700 strong. They came out a company of 120, and those who reached the protection of the trench knew that hundreds of their comrades lay wounded in the open at the mercy of the flames. Captain Hansen called for volunteers to help in bringing them in. Three brave men were willing, and with the Captain they climbed out of the trench and dashed into the scrub. One by one six of the wounded were recovered and carried down the hill. Bullets could not stay the rescuers, but the flames at length defeated them.

Speaking generally of the campaign in Gallipoli, Captain Hansen said that the Turks were clean fighters. They did not use gas, and were never guilty of unsoldierly methods. “It is really a pleasure to fight them,” he remarked.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/first-world-war/article4611371.ece

Welcome to Chaplain VC

June 12, 1916

Mr Mellish went out into a perfect inferno of shell, rifle and other fire and brought in 10 badly wounded men

The Rev Edward Noel Mellish, VC, received a civic welcome on Saturday in the council chamber of the Borough of Deptford, where he signed his name on the borough roll of honour and was presented with an address by the Mayor and Council. Outside the Town Hall a large crowd enthusiatically cheered Mr Mellish. The Mayor claimed Mr Mellish as a citizen of Deptford, in virtue of his residence and work in the borough as assistant curate at the parish church. He said that while acting as chaplain attached to the 4th Royal Fusiliers at St Eloi, on March 27, 28, and 29 Mr Mellish went out into a perfect inferno of shell, rifle and other fire. He brought in 10 badly wounded men on the first day. His battalion was then relieved, but he went back and brought in four more wounded. On the night of the third day he took charge of volunteers and again went out to rescue wounded. The Mayor read a letter from a soldier, who said, “Mr Melllsh walks into the most dangerous zones without fear of any description, and to our stretcher-bearers this gives great confidence.”

Mr Mellish corrected the report that men were actually killed whilst he was dressing their wounds. That did not happen. Deptford had provided a very large bit of the British Army, and it was a very good bit too. People who soldiered with Cockneys said, as he always said, that they were the salt of the earth. If, as had been kindly said, he had done great things he had learned to do so from the fellows he had lived with.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/first-world-war/article4616513.ece

With the French in Artois

 On this day: Nov 18 1915 A long, bare scarp, the scrubby sides of which are scored by gullies that lead steeply down, through scanty coppices to the shell-riven husks of shattered villages. Such is what the Germans, with a fine choice of epithet, call the “accursed” ridge of Notre Dame de Lorette. The Germans thought their position in these villages impregnable, and they spared no trouble to make their dug-outs permanent, comfortable, and even luxurious. In one of these villages we visited a dug-out which had formerly been the German officers’ club, and which is now used as a dressing-station. In one corner stood a German piano, a large clock hung upon a wall; the sides of the room were even panelled with walnut wood, and very well panelled at that. Equally thorough, if less finished, workmanship had been put into the rooms occupied by the telephone operators in communication with the German commander. The French officer who showed me round this particular village took a malicious joy in pointing out all these perfections for, thanks to the very excellence of the German workmanship, his men can live in a state of security which is incredible on a first view of these utterly woeful hamlets. And if, as he remarked, the French guns could not destroy these works they ought equally to resist any pounding by the Germans. Certainly they are tested often enough. Only the day before our visit the Germans plumped several heavy shells into the village in quick succession. Luckily nobody was even wounded, and the only visible effect was an enormous crater from the edge of which projected (horribile dictu) the headless corpse of a German Grenadier. The shell had gone right down into his hasty burial place in the open field and ripped the skull off the backbone. Meanwhile, only a few kilometres away, along the remaining spurs of the plateau the scene is already being laid for a repetition of all this ghastly business. The French are steadily, remorselessly, forcing their way along the Vimy heights and battering at the last doors that bar them from the plains of Lens. But not until that has been done can there be real calm again on the “accursed” ridge and in the equally “accursed” villages that lie wrecked in the gullies of this wild upland. 

 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/first-world-war/article4615518.ece 

 Gallant deeds rewarded 

 On this day: Nov 17, 1915 The Distinguished Conduct Medal has been awarded to 203 non-commissioned officers and men in the British Forces serving in France and Flanders and at the Dardanelles for “acts of gallantry and devotion to duty”. The official record of their services brings out in a striking way not only the splendid courage of the troops, but the resource, initiative, and powers of leadership shown by men in the ranks when the need for those qualities has arisen. The heavy casualties among officers on the Western front at the time of the “big push” threw great responsibility upon the non-commissioned officers, and even privates. How well that responsibility was met may be gathered from a few of the instances described in the Gazette. Private JW Campbell, of the Seaforth Highlanders, by “his perfect example of coolness, bravery, and devotion to duty” under very heavy fire at Hohenzollern Redoubt on September 26, was instrumental in rallying the line when several units were mixed up with his own regiment. Later, when still under heavy fire, he got on to the parapet and called to the men to stand firm. Another case is that of Sergeant HJ Willey, of the 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade. During the action on Bellewaarde Ridge he passed continually backwards and forwards, trying to establish communication with the battalion on his right, and when all his officers had been killed he rallied and organized the men of his own and other companies, and captured a position in the German second line trenches, which he held against all counter-attacks. During the day he was under incessant machine-gun and shell fire. He also took six prisoners and made them carry back the wounded of his party. Another typical instance of the things is attributed to Private HA Duester, of the 5th Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. During the attack on Bellewaarde he was one of a party of 10, the survivors of the left column, which had been destroyed by shell fire. With great bravery he led this party into the German lines and successfully bombed his way into the second line. When the lines fell back his party was nearly cut off, but by judicious bombing and the use of German bombs he successfully extricated them. He was recommended for reward by his surviving comrades. 

 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/first-world-war/article4613663.ece 

 Destruction of a novel ordered 

 On this day: Nov 14, 1915 

 At Bow Street Police Court on Saturday, Messrs Methuen and Co (Limited), publishers, Essex Street, Strand, were summoned before Sir John Dickinson to show cause why 1,011 copies of Mr DH Lawrence’s novel “The Rainbow” should not be destroyed. The defendants expressed regret that the book should have been published, and the magistrate ordered that the copies should be destroyed and that the defendants should pay £10 10s costs. Mr H Muskett, for the Commissioner of Police, said that the defendants, who were publishers of old standing and recognized repute, offered no opposition to the summons. The book in question was a mass of obscenity of thought, idea, and action throughout, wrapped up in language which he supposed would be regarded in some quarters as an artistic and intellectual effort, and he was at a loss to understand how Messrs Methuen had come to lend their name to its publication. Mr Muskett read extracts from some Press criticisms of the work and continued that upon the matter being brought to the notice of the authorities a search warrant was at once obtained. This was executed by Detective-inspector Draper, who was given every facility by the defendants. He seized a number of copies of the book at their premises and afterwards obtained other copies from the printers, Messrs Hazell, Watson, and Viney. A representative of Messrs Methuen said that the agreement to publish the book was dated July, 1914. When the MS was delivered it was returned to the author, who at the defendants’ suggestion made a number of alterations. The firm did not receive it back until June 4 last and again they protested against certain passages. Other alterations were then made by the author, after which he refused to do anything more. No doubt the firm acted unwisely in not scrutinising the book again more carefully, and they regretted having published it. The Magistrate, in making an order as above, said it was greatly to be regretted that a firm of such high repute should have allowed their reputation to be soiled, as it had been, by the publication of this work, and that they did not take steps to suppress it after the criticisms had appeared in the Press.